During disasters, people with disability face a higher risk of death, injury and neglect.¹

To address these concerns, we engaged the University of Sydney Centre for Disability Research and Policy to undertake the Disability Inclusive Emergency Management (DIEM) project.  

1 in 6 Australians under the age of 65 live with disability, this $1 million project was designed to improve national capability and safety and wellbeing outcomes for people with disability. 

The project was co-designed with people with disability, representatives from across all levels of government, and the emergency, disability, and community sectors. 

An Expert Advisory Panel supported the project. It includes government representatives, people with disability, and sector advocates. 

The DIEM Toolkit

The DIEM Toolkit is a series of resources that support emergency planners, governments, and disability and community organisations to ensure disability inclusion is part of emergency preparedness planning. 

The Toolkit is helping to address recommendations of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.  

The Toolkit has 4 parts: 

• Overview (PDF 1059KB): provides an overview of the different elements of the Toolkit. It explains how it facilitates self-assessment, encourages collaboration, and guides tailored action planning.
• Principles and Practical Action Guide (PDF 1585KB): supports emergency planners to translate principles for disability inclusive emergency management into practical actions for a consistent national approach. The guide provides roadmaps and templates to help plan, implement and monitor progress.
• Organisational Emergency Preparedness Profile (PDF 2186KB): supports organisations to assess and document their level of emergency preparedness, capabilities, and potential to contribute to disability inclusive emergency management.
• Resource Map (PDF 1059KB): shares good practice resources for disability inclusive emergency management.

Access an Easy Read version of the DIEM Toolkit (PDF 1552KB).  

Disability Inclusive Emergency Planning forums  

We engaged the University of Sydney Centre for Disability Research and Policy to hold several forums nationally to implement the Toolkit. A National Synthesis Report outlining the findings of these forums demonstrates what’s working, where gaps remain and practical steps organisations can take to strengthen disability inclusive emergency management. 

eLearning modules

The University of Sydney also developed eLearning modules to support implementation of the DIEM Toolkit. They help people put the principles into practice in emergency management.

The modules are free and self-paced. They are suitable for people who work in:

• government
• emergency services
• disability 
• community 
• health 
• social 
• welfare 

Each module includes interactive activities, videos and case studies.

Access the eLearning modules.

Scoping study 

The University of Sydney Centre for Disability Research and Policy were engaged in 2022 to conduct a scoping study to review the existing disability inclusive emergency management research, resources and capability in Australia. The recommendations of the scoping study informed the development of the DIEM Toolkit. The scoping study can be viewed below. 

¹1 in 6 Australians live with a disability

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia/contents/people-with-disability/prevalence-of-disability 

² The University of Sydney’s Centre for Disability Research and Policy (CDRP) and Asia Pacific Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Research Group. Disability and Disaster Risk Reduction / Emergency Preparedness 

Scoping Review. NSW, Australia; November 2016; The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Overview of responses to the Emergency planning and response Issues paper. Australia; February 2021.